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0 / 32 Fotos
It’s all take and no give - To sustain a good relationship, you need both. If you’re constantly giving without receiving, you’ll soon be running on empty.
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1 / 32 Fotos
Always judging and criticizing you - It’s okay to have opinions, but when it’s constant criticism that is not intended to be helpful, it’s a toxic attempt to belittle you.
© Shutterstock
2 / 32 Fotos
Endless narcissism - If the person only cares to frame everything around themselves, from daily conversations to the entire relationship, you will never be considered an equal partner in the way you should be.
© Shutterstock
3 / 32 Fotos
Lack of trust - No relationship can progress without trust. If you don’t trust them, why stick around? You'll both be endlessly putting out illusory fires.
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4 / 32 Fotos
Feeling drained - Good relationships should lift you up and add something to your life. If you’re not being your happy and productive self, and you’re always mentally, emotionally, and even physically exhausted, take a step back.
© Shutterstock
5 / 32 Fotos
Betraying yourself - Acting against your own opinions and morals, and instead changing them to match someone else’s, is a sign of a damaging relationship.
© Shutterstock
6 / 32 Fotos
Lack of support - What reason is there to engage in a relationship if you can never rely on one another?
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7 / 32 Fotos
Bad-mouthing others - If someone talks poorly about others to you, they’re likely trying to get you on their side, and it shows what kind of person they are—you never know if they're talking about you like that.
© Shutterstock
8 / 32 Fotos
Feeling like you can’t do anything right - When this happens, it's not so much about what you do, but rather it's about how you feel. When nothing you do is right, it’s likely the relationship is wrong.
© Shutterstock
9 / 32 Fotos
Constant hostility - Feeling constantly angry or unsafe can take a real toll on every part of your life and is a sure sign of an unhealthy relationship.
© Shutterstock
10 / 32 Fotos
It brings out the worst in you - Harmful relationships have a way of bringing out nasty traits, sometimes just as a means of coping. Good relationships should challenge you to be better.
© Shutterstock
11 / 32 Fotos
A pattern of disrespect - If they don’t respect your space, your time, your feelings, your opinion, etc., it's time to get out of that relationship.
© Shutterstock
12 / 32 Fotos
Blame game - If someone is constantly blaming others or outside factors for their own behavior or actions, that means they’re not willing to admit their mistakes. This makes it impossible to deal with conflict constructively.
© Shutterstock
13 / 32 Fotos
Screaming fights - If your conflicts are always explosive and lead to drastic words or actions, there is great cause for concern.
© Shutterstock
14 / 32 Fotos
Experiencing low self-esteem - Being in a relationship with someone who doesn’t acknowledge your value can make it very difficult to see it in yourself, which can lead to a whole roster of problems.
© Shutterstock
15 / 32 Fotos
Overflowing negativity - Negativity is contagious, and it will seep into various parts of your life. Toxic relationships can darken your entire outlook on life.
© Shutterstock
16 / 32 Fotos
Controlling behavior - Do you feel completely in control of your own actions, schedule, and opinions? Do you feel free to express your true feelings? If not, that's a red flag.
© Shutterstock
17 / 32 Fotos
Nonstop drama - Good relationships can have drama, but they aren’t a constant mess. If you’re constantly venting about the latest episode in your relationship, change the channel.
© Shutterstock
18 / 32 Fotos
Avoiding each other - This is a pretty straightforward sign that something’s not working, and yet sometimes it’s hard to recognize it in yourself until you really pay attention. It can even be when you’re with each other.
© Shutterstock
19 / 32 Fotos
You’ve lowered your standards - Toxic relationships have an uncanny ability to cause us to slowly start accepting things we wouldn’t have accepted before.
© Shutterstock
20 / 32 Fotos
Feeling like you can’t leave - If you’ve thought about ending the relationship but you feel you can’t for some reason pertaining to the other person’s benefit, it's likely they've purposely entrapped you.
© Shutterstock
21 / 32 Fotos
Constantly being undermined
- This is a power tactic, and when a relationship becomes a game of power, it’s no longer healthy.
© Getty Images
22 / 32 Fotos
Feeling unworthy of something better - Part of the trick of maintaining toxic relationships is making you feel like you don’t deserve any better, and therefore you don’t seek any better.
© Shutterstock
23 / 32 Fotos
Steeped in envy - In a positive relationship, difference is a source of strength. In toxic relationships, envy can cause people to do mean things to try and level the other.
© Shutterstock
24 / 32 Fotos
You have no autonomy - You should always have the freedom to make decisions of your own in a relationship.
© Shutterstock
25 / 32 Fotos
Lack of communication - There can be no relationship without proper, two-sided communication.
© Shutterstock
26 / 32 Fotos
Demanding special treatment - If someone is always requiring special treatment, whether to submit something after the deadline or asking you to break your own rules for them, it’s a clear sign they don’t respect you.
© Shutterstock
27 / 32 Fotos
Passive aggression - This toxic form of anti-communication fosters a spiteful atmosphere where none of the real problems are addressed and more are taken on. You should feel comfortable to openly express your feelings and desires.
© Shutterstock
28 / 32 Fotos
Unending lies - Dishonesty is a prominent tool used in manipulation, and from dishonesty comes distrust, hostility, and toxicity.
© Shutterstock
29 / 32 Fotos
You’re just not happy anymore
- If someone is constantly making you unhappy, you owe it to yourself to let that person go.
© Shutterstock
30 / 32 Fotos
What would you tell a friend if they were in this relationship?
- Sometimes framing your relationship using someone else you care about and imagining what advice you’d give them can help you recognize how toxic the relationship is. See also: Signs you have a toxic boss
© Shutterstock
31 / 32 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 32 Fotos
It’s all take and no give - To sustain a good relationship, you need both. If you’re constantly giving without receiving, you’ll soon be running on empty.
© Shutterstock
1 / 32 Fotos
Always judging and criticizing you - It’s okay to have opinions, but when it’s constant criticism that is not intended to be helpful, it’s a toxic attempt to belittle you.
© Shutterstock
2 / 32 Fotos
Endless narcissism - If the person only cares to frame everything around themselves, from daily conversations to the entire relationship, you will never be considered an equal partner in the way you should be.
© Shutterstock
3 / 32 Fotos
Lack of trust - No relationship can progress without trust. If you don’t trust them, why stick around? You'll both be endlessly putting out illusory fires.
© Shutterstock
4 / 32 Fotos
Feeling drained - Good relationships should lift you up and add something to your life. If you’re not being your happy and productive self, and you’re always mentally, emotionally, and even physically exhausted, take a step back.
© Shutterstock
5 / 32 Fotos
Betraying yourself - Acting against your own opinions and morals, and instead changing them to match someone else’s, is a sign of a damaging relationship.
© Shutterstock
6 / 32 Fotos
Lack of support - What reason is there to engage in a relationship if you can never rely on one another?
© Shutterstock
7 / 32 Fotos
Bad-mouthing others - If someone talks poorly about others to you, they’re likely trying to get you on their side, and it shows what kind of person they are—you never know if they're talking about you like that.
© Shutterstock
8 / 32 Fotos
Feeling like you can’t do anything right - When this happens, it's not so much about what you do, but rather it's about how you feel. When nothing you do is right, it’s likely the relationship is wrong.
© Shutterstock
9 / 32 Fotos
Constant hostility - Feeling constantly angry or unsafe can take a real toll on every part of your life and is a sure sign of an unhealthy relationship.
© Shutterstock
10 / 32 Fotos
It brings out the worst in you - Harmful relationships have a way of bringing out nasty traits, sometimes just as a means of coping. Good relationships should challenge you to be better.
© Shutterstock
11 / 32 Fotos
A pattern of disrespect - If they don’t respect your space, your time, your feelings, your opinion, etc., it's time to get out of that relationship.
© Shutterstock
12 / 32 Fotos
Blame game - If someone is constantly blaming others or outside factors for their own behavior or actions, that means they’re not willing to admit their mistakes. This makes it impossible to deal with conflict constructively.
© Shutterstock
13 / 32 Fotos
Screaming fights - If your conflicts are always explosive and lead to drastic words or actions, there is great cause for concern.
© Shutterstock
14 / 32 Fotos
Experiencing low self-esteem - Being in a relationship with someone who doesn’t acknowledge your value can make it very difficult to see it in yourself, which can lead to a whole roster of problems.
© Shutterstock
15 / 32 Fotos
Overflowing negativity - Negativity is contagious, and it will seep into various parts of your life. Toxic relationships can darken your entire outlook on life.
© Shutterstock
16 / 32 Fotos
Controlling behavior - Do you feel completely in control of your own actions, schedule, and opinions? Do you feel free to express your true feelings? If not, that's a red flag.
© Shutterstock
17 / 32 Fotos
Nonstop drama - Good relationships can have drama, but they aren’t a constant mess. If you’re constantly venting about the latest episode in your relationship, change the channel.
© Shutterstock
18 / 32 Fotos
Avoiding each other - This is a pretty straightforward sign that something’s not working, and yet sometimes it’s hard to recognize it in yourself until you really pay attention. It can even be when you’re with each other.
© Shutterstock
19 / 32 Fotos
You’ve lowered your standards - Toxic relationships have an uncanny ability to cause us to slowly start accepting things we wouldn’t have accepted before.
© Shutterstock
20 / 32 Fotos
Feeling like you can’t leave - If you’ve thought about ending the relationship but you feel you can’t for some reason pertaining to the other person’s benefit, it's likely they've purposely entrapped you.
© Shutterstock
21 / 32 Fotos
Constantly being undermined
- This is a power tactic, and when a relationship becomes a game of power, it’s no longer healthy.
© Getty Images
22 / 32 Fotos
Feeling unworthy of something better - Part of the trick of maintaining toxic relationships is making you feel like you don’t deserve any better, and therefore you don’t seek any better.
© Shutterstock
23 / 32 Fotos
Steeped in envy - In a positive relationship, difference is a source of strength. In toxic relationships, envy can cause people to do mean things to try and level the other.
© Shutterstock
24 / 32 Fotos
You have no autonomy - You should always have the freedom to make decisions of your own in a relationship.
© Shutterstock
25 / 32 Fotos
Lack of communication - There can be no relationship without proper, two-sided communication.
© Shutterstock
26 / 32 Fotos
Demanding special treatment - If someone is always requiring special treatment, whether to submit something after the deadline or asking you to break your own rules for them, it’s a clear sign they don’t respect you.
© Shutterstock
27 / 32 Fotos
Passive aggression - This toxic form of anti-communication fosters a spiteful atmosphere where none of the real problems are addressed and more are taken on. You should feel comfortable to openly express your feelings and desires.
© Shutterstock
28 / 32 Fotos
Unending lies - Dishonesty is a prominent tool used in manipulation, and from dishonesty comes distrust, hostility, and toxicity.
© Shutterstock
29 / 32 Fotos
You’re just not happy anymore
- If someone is constantly making you unhappy, you owe it to yourself to let that person go.
© Shutterstock
30 / 32 Fotos
What would you tell a friend if they were in this relationship?
- Sometimes framing your relationship using someone else you care about and imagining what advice you’d give them can help you recognize how toxic the relationship is. See also: Signs you have a toxic boss
© Shutterstock
31 / 32 Fotos
Signs that you are in a toxic relationship
31 red flags to look out for
© Getty Images
Most of us have been involved in a toxic relationship at some point in our lives, whether it was in the personal or business sphere—and whether we knew it at the time or not. Of course, no relationship is perfect, but there are certain people with whom a healthy relationship is unattainable and you just have to get out.
While good relationships provide a feeling of security, happiness, respect, and freedom, toxic relationships spread through you like
poison from the hands of people who only care about themselves, and it can turn you into someone you may not even recognize.
Whether it’s in the workplace, among friends, or in a romantic partner, if you’re feeling drained of your energy and joy, it’s time to re-evaluate those relationships. Check out this gallery to see some red flags.
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